Wind-shield and prow for air-craft.



W. I. WOOD.

WIND SHIELD AND PROW FOR AIR CRAFT.

APPLICATION I'ILBD Hmm, 1911.

1,005,759. Patented 061.1111911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

C MBIA PLANOORAPH C0.. WMPIING'NIN, D C.

W. I. WOOD.

l WIND SHIELD AND PROW FOR AIR DRAFT.

` A1 1 L10ATI0N FILED 11:11.21, 1911.

1,005,759. `Patented 001110,1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ZZZZZQ Waad WILLIS I. WOOD, OF GLENI-IAVEN, WISCONSIN.

WIND-SHIELD AND PROW FOR AIR-CRAFT.

Application filed February 21, .1911.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 10, 1911.

Serial No. 609,906.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIS I. WOOD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glenhaven, in the county of Grant and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Wind-Shields and Prows for Air-Craft, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a combined wind shield and prow or air divider for air craft, the object of the invention being to provide a device which vwill shield the pilot from the direct force of the wind, which will divide the air to diminish the resistance to flight and effectively deflect the air to the supporting surfaces, which will allow the pilot to have free observation in all directions, and which is adjustable for varying contingencies of services.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure l is a side elevation yof a portion of a flying machine showing the application of the invention thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on l'ine 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the shield.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a flying machine of the biplane type, to which the invention is shown applied in the present instance, although it is to be understood that the device is adapted for application to any of the ordinary types of flying machines in use.

Secured to the frame of the machine, at a point in advance of and adjacent to the aviators seat 2, are standards or uprights 3 supporting the wind shield and prow or dividers 4, which standards may be reinforced in any suitable manner from the framework structure. The shield 4 comprises a body of approximately V-form in horizontal cross section, and formed of wood, metal or any other suitable material, or of a composite structure.

The shield is of greatest length in a vertical direction, and its sides 5 diverge outwardly and rearwardly from the longitudinal center of the shield, which provides a wind cutting or diverging point 6. The shield is so disposed that its concaved side faces the aviator occupying the seat 2 so as to shield him from the force of the wind when the machine is in flight, and the sides 5 act as deflectors to guide the wind currents laterally so that they will pass beneath and into contactl with the` wings ofthe .sup-.3

porting surfaces in an effective manner.

By the described arrangement of the shield, which cuts through the air in advance of the body of the aeroplane, the resistance to flight is diminished, as the wind currents are deflected from the line of, and prevented from exert-ing their full resisting pressure upon, the motor and other parts of the drive gearing behind the aviator in the longitudinal central line of the machine.

The sides 5 are secured to the standards 3 by connecting members 7 which slidably engage the standards, thus allowing the shield to be adjusted vertically as occasion may require. Associated with the connecting members are binding screws or the like 8, by which the shield may be fastened in adjusted position. The shield is preferably inclined to the vertical, as shown, in order to enable the aviator to have ready observation ahead and aside, the sides 5 of the shield being provided with observation openings 9 for such purpose, which openings are provided with transparent panels 10 of any suitable material. These windows or observation openings in the shield are formed alike in the two sides 5 so as to extend at diverging angles to the line of flight, so that the aviator without changing his position may look ahead in the line of flight and also toward either side thereof to guide the machine in its course.

The advantages of the attachment in shielding the aviator from the force of the wind will be readily understood by those versed in the art and its other advantages readily perceived, and it will be apparent that its structure is such as to enable it to be manufactured and sold at a low cost and applied to any ordinary type of flying machine.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new is:

The combination with a flying machine embodying a main frame, a head frame, and superposed supporting planes upon the main frame, of a pair of rear guide rods arranged in transverse alinement and extending at an upward and rearward angle between and secured to said supporting planes, a front guide rod arranged on a line between said rear guide rod and extending at an upward and rearward'anglebetween the head frame and upper supporting plane and lsecured thereto,\ a V-shaped wind shield provided with sleeves located respectively at its vertex and free edges of its side walls, said sleeves slidably engaging the front and rear guide rods, the wings of said shield being arranged obliquely to the line of flight and provided in proximity to the vertex of the shield with observation openings, means carried by the sleeves of the side walls to engage the rear guide rods for adjustably seeuringsaid shield at a desired elevation between said supporting planes, and an aviators seat suitably arranged in rear of and on a line between the wings of the shield.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIS I. IVOOD. lVitnesses:

HORACE W. Woon, FRANK TATE.

l Gopes of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

